World Series
(AL7) Chicago White Sox vs. (NL2) Atlanta Braves
It’s a cliché pick to select both No. 1 seeds to advance all the way to the World Series and, as we’ve already seen with 2020, there’s a lot of abnormal things that have happened and very well could with the MLB. It’s very hard to pick against a Dodgers-Rays World Series, but it’s a weird year, weird season and the World Series is bound to follow that trend.
Chicago and Atlanta were among the best teams in their respective leagues, despite neither having the best record and Chicago not even winning its division, but their matchup in the Fall Classic should be entertaining. Chicago hasn’t won a title in 15 years; Atlanta in 25.
Max Fried and Ian Anderson lead the way for Atlanta on the mound – Fried’s quietly solid 7-0 record in 2020 only yielded 14 earned runs, while Anderson’s 3-2 record belies an under-2 ERA. Fried averaged almost one strikeout per inning and eight per nine frames, and Anderson managed to top that with 11.4 per nine innings. Swanson, Freeman and others provide offensive support with their bats.
The White Sox have standouts on the mound and at the plate. Giolito is averaging more than 12 strikeouts per nine innings and has a no-hitter to his name in 2020, and will more than likely win both of his starts for Chicago. Five White Sox batters have home run numbers in the double digits and Jose Abreu has driven in 60 runs, but the series will mark the first time the clubs have faced each other in 2020 and Chicago will fall just short.
Atlanta wins the World Series in six games and secures their first title in 25 years. Freddie Freeman adds to his MVP candidacy with a World Series MVP award, including hitting his third grand slam of the season during the course of the series.